Sympathetic harp.



A. B. LEE.

SYMPATHETIG HARP.

APPLICATION rum) NOV. 26. 1913.

1,117,199. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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A. B. LEE.

SYMPATHBTIO HARP.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 26, 1913. 1,1 1 7 1 99 Patented Nov. 17, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ALBERT B. LEE, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SYMPATHETIC HARP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Application filed November 26, 1913. Serial No. 803,168.

1/ b all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ,ALBERT. B. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sympathetic Harps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a sympathetic harp for use in connection with a phonograph or other soundproducing instrument, whereby the quality of the music is improved.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 1sv a View of the so-called sympathetic harp in central section, shown as used in connection with a phonograph; Figs. 2 and 3 are front and rear views, respectively, of the harp; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section, taken on p the line :0 03* of Fig. 2.

The numerals 1 and 2 indicate main and auxiliary sounding boards, respectively. These sounding boards are in parallel arrangement, laterally spaced one from the other, and secured, at their marginal edges, to a rectangular frame 3. The main sounding board lislocated intermediately between the marginal edges of the frame 3, and the auxiliary soundingboard is located entirely to one side thereof. Central openings 4L and 5 are formed, respectively, in the main and auxiliary sounding boards 1 and 2.

On each side of the main sounding board 1 is a pair of laterally spaced parallel bars 6 and 7 The bars comprising each pair are rigidly connected, at their outer and inner ends, by short wide cross bars 8 and 9, respectively. These pairs of bars 6 and 7 extend parallel, one with the other, and with the main sounding board 1, and are spaced apart therefrom. They are also materially longer than the width of the frame 8 and are rigidly secured, at their inner ends and intermediate portions, to opposite sides of said frame. The outwardly projecting ends of the pairs of bars 6 and 7 afford, respectively, long and short extensions 10 and 11. Obviously, these extensions 10 and 11 constitute a bifurcated extension of the frame 3.

Overlying the outer face of each sounding board is a set of vibrating strings 12. These strlngs are secured, at their inner and outer ends, respectively, by hitch pins 13 and tuning pins 14. The hitch pins 13 are secured to the bars 6 and 7 and the cross bars 9, and the tuning pins 14 are secured in the outer end portions of the extensions 10 and 11. Transverse bars 15 hold the outer ends of the strings 12 out of direct contact with the extensions 10 and 11. Interposed between each set of strings 12 and the main sounding board 1 is a bridge 16. As shown, these opposing bridges extend in the same plane and rest directly on opposite faces of the main sounding board 1. It will be noted, by reference to the drawings, that neither of these bridges touches any ofthe parts of the instrument, except the main sounding board 1 and strings 12. One of the bridges 16 projects through the opening 5 in the auxiliary sounding board 2. By thus arranging the bridges, a very thin sounding board 1 may be used.

The improved instrument is mounted in an oblong rectangular casing 17, set on end and having a lower compartment 18 with front and back doors 19. The upper section of the casing 17 is open at its front and back and has mounted therein the body member 3, with its extensions 10 and 11 extending downwardly into the cabinet 18. Both of said extensions extend through a central opening 20 in the horizontal partition 21 of the casing 17. Access may be had to the cabinet 18 through the doors 19, for the purpose of tuning the instrument.

In the drawings, a horn-equipped phonograph, indicated as an entirety by the letter Z, has been illustrated as the sound-producing instrument, but it is, of course, understood that any other musical instrument may be used in place thereof. The horn of the phonograph Z is placed close to the easing 17 directly opposite the exposed face of the main sounding board, so that the sound waves therefrom pass directly through both sets of vibrating strings 12. Sympathetic vibrations, set up in both sets of strings by the sound waves from the sound-producing instrument, will be transmitted mechanically and directly from the one set of strings to the other through the opposing bridges 16,

I thus increasing the sensitiveness of both sets of strings. From the foregoing description, it is evident that the invention may be used in connection with a piano, or any other soundproducing instrument.

The invention is herein designated as a sympathetic harp, because of the manner in which it is actuated from a primary soundproducing instrument. The instrument might, however, quite properly be designated as an echo-harp.

' What I claim is 1. The combination With a frame, having an extension, of a sounding board carried by said frame, two sets of strings on opposite sides of said sounding board secured to said frame and said extension, and two bridges resting on opposite faces of said sounding board and supporting said two sets of strings.

2. The combination with a frame, having two extensions, of a sounding board carried by said frame, two sets of strings on opposite sides of said sounding board,said strings being secured at one end to said frame and at their other ends, respectively, to one of the extensions, and two bridges resting on opposite faces of said sounding board and supporting said two sets of strings.

3. The combination with main and auxiliary sounding boards, having central openin'gs, of a set of strings overlying each of said sounding boards, and tvvo'bridges resting on opposite faces of said main sounding board, the bridge for the strings overlying 'said auxiliary sounding board projecting through the opening in said auxiliary sounding board, entirely free therefrom.

l. The combination with a frame having two extensions, of main and auxiliary sound ing boards, having central openings, carried by said frame, a set of strings overlying each of said sounding boards, said strings being secured at one end to said frame and at their other ends, respectively, to one of the extensions, and two opposing bridges, in the same plane, resting on opposite faces of said main sounding board, the bridge forthe strings overlying said auxiliary sounding board projecting through the opening in said auxiliary sounding board, entirely free therefrom.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT B. LEE. Witnesses:

EVA E. Konie, HARRY D. Knieonn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 13.6. 

